Somewhat rare, the silver-gilt three-tine fork with a very nice French-forked terminal, the front and back with engraved foliate decoration Surrounding un-monogrammed ovals to the terminal; unmarked as was often the case in early sweetmeat cutlery

Small spoons, forks and knives were made in the late 17th century, sometimes as travelling cutlery that would have fit in a small case. Forks had existed since biblical times. However, they were quite slow to catch on in England. The earlier British clergy contended that God gave people fingers for eating, and declared forks to be diabolical (forks sometimes then referred to as "pitchforks", having the same Latin root furca). 17th century sweetmeat and sucket forks were an exception, being for staining and sticky foods that could not be picked up with the fingers. The three tines representing the thumb and two first fingers, then proper for Transporting solid foods to the mouth.

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